Heat radio analyst John Crotty will become the team's TV analyst "beginning next season" on Sun Sports, according to Tom D'Angelo of the PALM BEACH POST. Crotty will work on the Fox-owned RSN "alongside play-by-play broadcaster Eric Reid, replacing longtime analyst Tony Fiorentino." Crotty has been a "member of the broadcast team" since '05. He will become the "seventh person to serve as the TV analyst for the franchise and the second former player." Since the spring of '12, Crotty has "served as a studio analyst for all Heat home and road games." In addition to his work with the Heat, Crotty has also "served as a color analyst on college basketball games for Fox." The team has "not announced plans to fill Crotty’s current role on radio" (PALM BEACH POST, 11/4). In Miami, Barry Jackson cited sources as saying that former NBAers LaPhonso Ellis and Caron Butler "received strong consideration" for the TV position. Former NBAer Jim Jackson also "auditioned." A source said that the Heat "wanted to upgrade over Fiorentino, who is in his 15th season as the Heat TV analyst." His new job "will include community events and running the Heat’s basketball camp" (MIAMI HERALD, 11/4).
